Posted:8th Sep 2005I'm not sure about agencies but a good way to start is to get a buskers or street performers licence for the major city in your area and perform there. Get some buisness cards printed out and hand them out while doing that to get your name out, that way you'll get gigs at parties and suchlike. Then just see what happens from there but try not to aim too high at first. Also go to festivals like Download or Glasto and perform there so that the people who organise them might see you and just pray that you have good luck. You'll have to be pretty fantastic to get any major gigs but smaller ones (high school proms, birthdays or local faires) are relatively simple to get, if you talk to the right people.

If you are going to talk to someone about a gig take some of your props with you and give them a demonstration (nothing too flashy, save that for the actual performance) to show them the kind of things that you can do and always be polite. If they ask for you to perform with fire ask them to allow an assistant so that you have a safety, ask to be allowed to set up the performance area yourself and always, always, always check local laws regarding fire performance and risk assessments.

There's a few more things that I can't remember right now (I have them on a list along with a few other things like my buskers permit) but I'll post them later whne I dig it out.

Posted:8th Sep 2005cheers for the advice, if ya have the info that would help me out a lot n do you also know where to find out about local fire regulations like a sight or info on where to go to find out eg for london

Posted:8th Sep 2005Insurance will also be a major issue. Many performers here are required to have $10 million public liability and I am sure it is the same where you are.. just the figure may be different. Also on top of people 'requiring' you to be safe, you MUST be safe.. have extinguishers first aid etcetcetcetc with you.If you light something it is totally your responsibility to see it doesn't hurt anyone or anything and that it is put out safely as well.

Also suggest you do a search of forums cos this question has been asked a number of times before and there is lots of good advice already